Skip to content

Creating a Calm Living Space

9 July 2021

Here at Tom Raffield we’ve been comparing notes recently on our spring cleaning styles and room layout ideas, and we all agree on a few key tips for creating a calm living space where you can let go of anxieties and enjoy long summer evenings at home.
Loer pendant

 

And breathe...

While it’s easy to feel out of control of a lot of things in life, controlling what we can allows us to feel calmer and less stressed. Calm starts at home.

We’ve all experienced that feeling of pure joy and satisfaction upon completing a small sorting task, perhaps just 10 minutes reorganising a drawer or bookcase. Breaking things into manageable chunks can be the way to go, essential even if you are very short on time.

Our surroundings  play such an important part in our wellbeing every day, so why not treat yourself to a few hours playing around with reorganising your living space and make a day of it!

May coffee table
A sculptural, statement table will bring you joy every day and an artisan piece will be loved and last a lifetime. Our May Coffee Table is a masterful interpretation of contemporary design, handcrafted from a single piece of sustainably sourced oak.

 

Let every drop of sunlight in

Natural light boosts the mood and makes every interior feel more zen. The sun sits differently at this time of year, and while most of us are pretty well versed on how it moves around the garden, it can be useful to take a moment to pause and notice how light changes your living space through the seasons.

Arbor chair
Our inviting Arbor Armchair positioned alongside the undulating timber loops of our Skipper Floor Light.

Discover where the bright, light areas perfect for Sunday reading, or cosier shady nooks are. Do you hope to use your space differently at this time of year (we’re certainly aspiring to more time on the yoga mat and less TV drama now that winter is behind us).

Perhaps there’s a particular window or doors you enjoy having open in the warmer months to allow your garden and living space to feel more as one, allowing the smell of freshly cut grass and the sound of birdsong to permeate.

The power of plants

This time of year in the UK, it’s beautifully light but can still be a bit too cold to sit outside for long periods of time, so we like to bring the outside in!

Hanging planters positioned together can make a brilliant impact and lift the whole space, connecting inside and outside.

Morvah planters
A steam bent piece of solid ash loops around and embraces a hand-glazed earthenware bowl creating a unique feature.
Morvah planters
We love the combination of wood grain textures, greenery and the curved, smooth eggshell surface of the slip-cast earthenware vessel on our Morvah Ceiling Hanging Planters.

Surround yourself with plants. They release oxygen, cleanse the air, and taking care of them has many proven health benefits too.

Are you sitting comfortably?

The cornerstone of every calming living space is the seating area. Perhaps you’re even beginning to look forward to welcoming guests at home once more.

arbor arm chair and skipper floor light
A powerful curve of steam bent wood bonds structure and aesthetic. Marrying Tom Raffield craftsmanship with Danish design principles, the Arbor Armchair invites you to take a moment for yourself, and feel the expert craftsmanship beneath your fingers.

Why not have a winter and summer seating layout? Keeping in mind your observations of the way sunlight changes your space throughout the day you could measure up, sketch out and plan, or just begin to move and play around with repositioning furniture to create a seating area that makes the most of the longer summer days and evenings.

Arbor armchair
A place to pause and appreciate the moment, the play of light or the simple tactile beauty of wood and fabric textures that surround you.

Upholstered in the highest quality, naturally hard wearing, contract grade wool, our versatile and sustainable seating designs call out to be enjoyed. With four beautiful standard fabrics, and hundreds of bespoke, all you have to do is choose a colour...

soothing colours

There are many articles written on the most relaxing colours to choose for your interiors, but the truth is we all see colour differently and find different hues calming. We are all unique after all.

Perhaps there is a particular colour combination that never fails to bring you joy, or an image that recently inspired youti It can be so fun to experiment with colour at home each season, and it can totally transform and revitalise your space.

Gwelsen screen
Our Earth Silver coloured Arbor Armchair styled with a draping soft pink blanket and natural twisted oak of our Gwelsen Screen.

 

Layer your light

Making sure pictures and shelves are well lit will add to the illusion of space and create a calming ambience for you to enjoy.

Cape flush light
Add interest, light and depth within our Cape Flush Ceiling Light — suspended in space, signature curves rise up and ebb away.
Cape flush light
Mirroring the wake of a wave, our Cape Lighting Range was born where the swell rolls in. Handcrafted timber peaks and barrels. In its folds, light gathers, and shadows are cast, creating focus and atmosphere.

Positioning light at different heights makes for effortless living and creates a cosy vibe that makes home feel like a sanctuary of relaxation.

Archer table light
Strong and sleek, the Archer Table Light emanates pared back elegance whilst producing ambient task lighting. Inspired by industrial simplicity, it’s handcrafted from steam bent oak wood and is accented by a brass light fitting that nestles into its architectural base.

And finally, of course, declutter

Taking time to rearrange your space can be a great opportunity to also reconsider the things that have accumulated — what to keep and what to give away. Tidy space, tidy mind.

Using clever storage creates a clearer space, and it is fun to think about how to store or display those most important, cherished items, intuitively positioning them on a shelf together to be admired.

Housel shelf
With origins rooted in the sculptural tree canopies surrounding our Cornish design studio, our steam bent, ash wood Lundy Shelf celebrates the strength, versatility and unique character of this sustainable natural material, whilst showcasing forward-thinking design at it’s very best.

Posted: 09.07.21

Items added to basket